Selling Martin Zubimendi to a Premier League rival this summer will ‘come back to bite’ Arsenal.That is the view of European football journalist Andy Brassell amid interest in the World Cup winner.Arsenal have been urged not to sell Zubimendi to a Premier League rival this summerGettyChelsea are amongst the clubs to be linked with a move for Zubimendi just a year after he joined the Gunners.The 27-year-old penned a deal through to the summer of 2030 following his £55million move from Real Sociedad.In his debut season with Arsenal, Zubimendi scored six goals and provided three assists in 57 appearances across all competitions.As well as lifting the Premier League title in May, he was part of the Spain squad which won the World Cup earlier this summer.However, Mikel Arteta’s midfield has since been bolstered ahead of the new season in a potential blow to Zubimendi’s playing time.The £75m arrival of Bruno Guimaraes sees him join Declan Rice, Mikel Merino, Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze as options in the centre of the park.Meanwhile, Ethan Nwaneri and Fabio Vieira have both returned to north London following loan spells elsewhere.Although Myles Lewis-Skelly has been offered to clubs, doubts still persist over whether Zubimendi will remain at the Emirates Stadium.Zubimendi decisionBrassell has backed the midfielder for long-term Premier League success, but admits his current club must make a decision quickly.Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT, he explained: “I think he could still be a success in the Premier League.Zubimendi joined the Gunners last summer but could see his opportunities reduced this seasonGetty“I think with the amount of games that Arsenal are still hoping to play this coming season and the amount of games you’d expect Arsenal to play in this coming season, they shouldn’t be ushering him out the door.“They should be holding on to him because we’ve seen that he’s a top-level player.“He’s a trusted Rodri replacement for the national team. He’s done that well in successive finals in Euro 2024 and in World Cup 2026.“So I think it would be very short-sighted, especially when you look at the physical condition that Declan Rice finished the World Cup in. I think it’d be really short-sighted for Arsenal to get rid of him now.”Rice battled injuries throughout England’s run to the semi-finals of the World Cup.As with Zubimendi, he has only recently returned to the club for pre-season following a prolonged post-tournament break.Brassell believes Arsenal should keep hold of World Cup winner ZubimendiGettyWho could Zubimendi join?Chelsea are not the only potential destination for Zubimendi if he leaves Arsenal before the transfer window closes.A return to Spain could also be on the cards, with Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid a possible alternative to the Blues.Brassell believes selling to a fellow Premier League side is far riskier for Arsenal, although new Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso could persuade Zubimendi to move to Stamford Bridge.The pair both began their careers with youth club Antiguoko before progressing through the Real Sociedad academy.Discussing who Zubimendi could join, Brassell added: “With that said if they are going to get rid of him I feel that I wouldn’t get rid of him to Chelsea because there would be huge potential for that to bite them on the backside.“Real Madrid I think makes a lot of sense for the reasons that you’ve outlined [a return to Spain] or the fact that they’ve missed out on the aforementioned Rodri or they look like missing out on the aforementioned Rodri.Mourinho’s Real Madrid has been named as an ideal landing spot for ZubimendiAFP“I think he would add a lot to [Jose] Mourinho’s Real Madrid because I think if you look at Mourinho teams in the last few years over the last couple of cycles, you look at Benfica, you look at Fenerbahce, you look at Roma.“If I could have changed anything about most of those teams, I think: ‘can we have a little bit more mobility in midfield, please?’ And that’s what Zubimendi is really good at.“He’s not just a holder who stays. He’s someone who’s really good at bringing the ball out, really mobile.“And you think if they’re going to get to a point where they play Aurelien Tchouameni either as a third centre-back or just one of two centre-backs, which is a possibility or whether you’re going to have him next to Zubimendi.“Zubimendi works in either of those places, I think, and to have someone who would do that to allow Jude Bellingham the ability to really make those late runs into the penalty box. I think he’d be really good for them.“Of course, the other connection is he’s a Real Sociedad guy just like Xabi Alonso.Zubimendi’s Real Sociedad connections could see him join Alonso at ChelseaGetty“So Xabi Alonso is more than aware of him, but I just don’t see Arsenal sanctioning that.“Especially as they know he’s a player who has had a tough time rather than a player who’s not good enough, so Real Madrid makes the best sense for me, but I think Arsenal should hang onto him.”